Food you don't understand

[ChippySauce]

Crumbed ham.

I don't get it.
What does the crumb bring?
It can't be textural as it's usually soggy.
Can any crumbed ham aficionados please enlighten me?

Are there other food mysteries you'd like clearing up?

Mystery meat at it's finest!

Profiteroles. Not horrible, but I do not understand their status as a beloved dessert. I would pick almost anything else.

I'm starting to feel like this thread is some conspiracy to ridicule everything I know and love.

I like breaded ham. I like the dry edges.

I "don't get" fruit in curries. I like fruit and I like curries but not together.

Also mayonnaise in EVERY shop bought sandwich.

Ah come on now. Your favourite menu isn't....

Starter - celery with oysters
Main - full English in a tin with a side of parsnips
Pudding - blancmange with parma violets

That sounds like the worst come dine with me ever now I look at it.

Actually you've done well there: you've chosen all the things mentioned I don't like - but I suspect that's because actually we all know they are the ones that really ARE horrid.

I do like celery and parsnips. I could manage a few violets.

Oysters and blacmange are the main real villains on this thread, plus I'm happy to chuck blue cheese and cottage cheese in with that. And I have never come across a full English in a tin so am forced to reserve judgment.

But avocado, scallops, lobster, asparagus, pasta, razor clams, profiteroles, then cheese generally sounds pretty much like a fabulous menu. And mac n cheese. I mean who the hell can diss mac n cheese? It's comfort food of the highest order.

Yes, I'd eat all of the ones in your last paragraph and love doing so.

@Calliopespa yes parsnips roasted with DEMON Honey

Wouldn't it be hilarious if someone read this and actually used it as their menu for Come Dine With Me (if it's still being made.... haven't watched for a few years)

I don't get the mac and cheese hate at all. Maybe they're using the wrong cheese? I'm making haggis mac and cheese this weekend, it's fantastic.

@murasaki my method…..co op ready meal Mac and cheese the standard one, slightly steamed and chopped up asparagus mixed in, extra cheese, tomatoes on top and more cheese. Best meal ever.

Is it still stringy and bitter if properly cooked? Genuinely curious. I do like some bitter veg, but have always found the stringiness to be quite intense.

Well that suddenly turned a bit sinister

Does sound good, nothing wrong with pimping a ready meal.

I'll do it from scratch, but I'd totally go for your version too.

@Mokel Richmonds are bloody revolting in my opinion - my favourite are a nice M&S Cumberland or Waitrose kick number 1 — I like meaty, peppery and tasty but not so 100% meaty ( had a few butchers ones like this) that they are really hefty and stodgy !! It’s a fine balance

@murasaki I live alone so no point me making one, and pasta doesnt freeze well. But I do crave a home made one, same with a roast dinner !

The Mac and cheese haters aren’t welcome in Glasgow 😆

Fair point. I'm the only one in this house who eats fish , and I love a fish pie. But by the time I've bought all the ingredients and made it, it's cheaper and easier to get a good ready made one.

Mac n Cheese hater here as well! I've never understood why people love it. No one in our family likes it, including the kids.

@murasaki yes and there would be enough for you to be eating it for at least four nights, and then you’d be so bored with it. it’s just so great to have it made for you sometimes, fish pie is probably quite a time consuming dish

This is where the link should have taken you.

You must be making it wrong. Do you use a decent bechamel?

Yes past and cheese needs a nice loose cheese sauce, not all dried up and crunchy, seeded bread breadcrumbs on top is a nice touch too.

Anything referred to as a delicacy makes me instantly suspicious and total loss of appetite. Fried brains or some kind of offal without a doubt.

Marzipan. Grim

@Calliopespa hsve you seen Tom kerridges Mac and cheese lesson on YouTube he uses FIVE cheeses in it !